Feeding your baby after birth with type 1 or 2 diabetes

Babies of women and birthing people who have diabetes sometimes get low glucose levels after they are born. Regular feeding shortly after birth can help keep them stable.

You should start feeding your baby as soon as you can after birth (within 30-60 minutes), and then at least 8 times in a 24 hour period, to help their glucose stay at a safe level.

On this page

Formula feeding

Breastfeeding

Keeping your glucose levels stable

Getting support

Formula feeding

While breastfeeding is recommended by health professionals because of the health benefits for you and your baby, you may choose to formula feed or end up using formula for other reasons. Some people have trouble breastfeeding and others choose not to.

No matter your reasons, you shouldn’t feel guilty or pressured about your choice. A happy and healthy baby is the most important thing.  

Breastfeeding

Benefits for your baby

Breastfeeding has long-term health benefits for your baby that last into adulthood. It can reduce their risk of infections and improve their long-term health. 

Research shows that breastfed babies of mothers who have diabetes are also less likely to develop type 2 diabetes in later life than those who are formula fed.

Benefits for you

Breastfeeding lowers your risk of:

• some cancers, such as breast and ovarian
• osteoporosis (weak bones)
• cardiovascular disease (heart problems)
• being obese.

If you had gestational diabetes and you don’t have type 2 diabetes already, breastfeeding can lower your risk of developing it in future.

Check with your healthcare team that any medications you’re taking are safe to take while you’re breastfeeding.

Colostrum

You may have heard about the benefits of collecting colostrum in the third trimester (harvesting colostrum). This is the first breast milk that your body makes. It contains all the nutrients your baby needs in the first few days after birth.  

It’s thought that giving your baby extra colostrum that you collected before they were born may help stabilise their glucose level, although more research is needed to be sure.

Either way, if you have any issues with breastfeeding, harvested colostrum can be given to them instead of formula milk. If you wanted to try harvesting your colostrum, your midwifery team can help you.  

“Expressing and storing colostrum in the weeks leading up to birth helped me feel empowered and proactive. My stored colostrum was invaluable when baby was mildly hypo for 24 hrs after birth.” 
Zoe 
 

When your milk comes in

Your milk ‘comes in’ after about 3 days, at which point you’ll notice that your breasts get much fuller. The amount of milk you make will increase or decrease based on your baby’s needs. It can take a few days for your milk supply to match these needs.

Keeping your glucose levels stable

It’s important to monitor your glucose levels often when you’re breastfeeding. If your glucose levels are too low, you could have a hypoglycaemic episode while you’re feeding.

These tips can help you keep your diabetes under control while you breastfeed.

• If you feel your glucose levels are dropping, and you don’t use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), test your glucose levels before breastfeeding your baby. You are more likely to have a hypoglycaemic episode if you start breastfeeding when you have low glucose levels, or if feeds go on for a long time. Aim for a glucose level 6mmol/L or more before you start feeding.
• Always have a snack handy when you are breastfeeding. Remember to increase your evening snack to cover your baby’s night time feed. Aim for a glucose level of 6mmol/L or more before bed.
• Many people feel thirsty when they are breastfeeding their babies. By monitoring your glucose levels, you will be able to tell whether what you are feeling is a natural thirst or thirst caused by a hyperglycaemic episode.  
• Be careful if you are feeling tired while you are feeding your baby, especially at night. If you doze off, you could miss the early warning signs of a hypoglycaemic episode. Setting low alerts on a CGM, if you use one, will help with this.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet while you’re breastfeeding. Your body needs calories for energy.

Be aware that babies often feed more when they are going through a development phase. Make sure you monitor your glucose levels and get advice from your diabetes team if your insulin regime needs tweaking.

Getting support

If you want to speak to someone between appointments with your health visitor, you should be able to find details of local support in your baby’s red book. This is your personal child health record, where all your child’s health and development reviews are recorded.

Your red book should also contain contact details of local breastfeeding drop-ins, cafes and centres. Find out more about breastfeeding, including details of support organisations, or read more about getting started with formula feeding.  

If you have questions specifically about diabetes and breastfeeding, speak to your healthcare team. You can also visit the Diabetes UK website, or contact them on 0345 123 2399 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or [email protected]. Learn more about what to expect after the birth when you have type 1 or 2 diabetes.